The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-09-09
WHOLE NO. 948.

rival, he had brought sorrow and cruel wrong
to the one he loved.
"Oh, Lawd What have | donep ho cried
i'll bis agony. "Ohl my purity gal, I'se h,4rtea
ye bad III didn't meanter. Ye air good
gal-too good fer ignorant feller like me-
III Lem Ruffner IL not stand in yer way.
Oh, Lawd help mel'
The moon had gone down and the first
streak of morning Sas seen before Lem arose
and entered his cabin. He was calm now,
and pence was written in the lines of his face,
while there was a soft light i'll his eyes. Seat
ing himself at q rude table lie produced, after
much labor, the following epistle:
MAY the as 1880
bene thinkn hit over an I'm q mean fell,r
ter swar ye ez did I jess low ye needn't min
hit. Mary yer northern chap an may God bless
ye Yer sru Kea. LEN.
The note was duly delivered by the negro
boy who "chored" it for Lem, and satisfying
himself that the boy had performed the er-
rand faithfully, Lem shouldered his gun and
started for the dense forest bordering the
river st. Johns. He was not seen again for
many q week, and his cabin in Bowlin settle
ment was deserted
"Whar's Lem? jess don't know whar the
Teller be-" Father Sullivan frequently said,
and his wife would answer curtly:
scot or sull1s. mebbe"
But Sue was always silent. and her heart
ached for the man who was fighting against
his love for her.
One day i'll June Stanley stood on the plat
form OF the little depot waiting for the fast
mail train. Sue was with him, and seeing q
curious flower on the opposite side of the
track she sent her lover after ii. He secured
it, but in returning his foot caught in the
rail, and he stumbled and fell full length on
the track. At the same instant the fast mail
dashed into view around the curve and came
rushing on toward the fallen man like the
mad plunge Of some horrible beast on it's
prey. Death seemed inevitable. Women
tainted and strong men turned away sick at
heart. But Sue neither tainted nor turned
away. In mute horror sne stared at the ter
rible sight. and neither cry nor moan escaped
her ashen lips.
just rs the iron monster seemed about to
crush and grind its victim into a shapeless
mass with almost human malignity, a tall
figure sprang from the station platform to the
track directly in front of the engine, his
brawny arms lifted Stanley and hurled him
down the bank out of harms way, and
the next instant the relentless Juggernaut
crushed the stranger beneath its ponderous
wheels. A hoarse cry went up from the spec
tators, but no sound escaped the victim as he
was borne tenderly into the depot, and when
it was known that he could live but few min
Wtes, even the men made no attempt to hide
their tears.
Sue entered the room when Stanley had re-
Joined her, and approaching the dying man
she looked on his face and suddenly cried out.
"Why. hits Lem! Hit air Lem Ruffnern
At sound of her voice the dying mans eyes
lowly opened and be looked at Sue.
"Yes-hit-air Lem," he gasped, "but Use
| mighty POI shape I air dyin', Sukey"-a
.,asm of pain cut short his speech, but after
moment he spoke again.
"Whar air him, Sukeyg'
"He is here. Lem, all safe" she replied.
A glad look came into the mans glazing
yes. After moment he said, as if talking
o himself.
Ser her sake-fer Sukey-I gin her-my
ne."
And Sue, moved by an impulse she could
not and cared not to resist, bent down and
kissed the parched lips of the man VINO had
thus sacrificed himself for her sake
Instantly his eyes opened again. be looked
at Sue, and put out his hand feebly. When
she took it in hers his eyes closed again, his
limbs relaxed, and q peaceful smile stole over
his wan face.
And one by one the people went softly ou5
of the little depot until Sue was left alone
with her liying-and her dead.
a. TIFFANY NORTON.